Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout - Independence Brewing Co.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I appreciate trying more stuff from Texas that doesn't normally get up Northest. This one gre on me. Lots of roast, smoke, very lacey brown, chocolate.Lots of coffee in the finish. Not as thick as I would expect from the style.Very malty, and a good drinker.
SilverX's bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2011 18:56:36 | More by northyorksammy

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Decided that I was going to go on a fridge cleaning for the next week before I need to take a break for a while. Went with this mixed sixer last night in an attempt to clean out some lighter fare. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, this was consumed on 11/03/2010.

Another new one for me I decided I just had to include last night as a night cap. Really dark pour here with a rich dark chocolate color that gave way to a huge head of tan that was nearly three inches high at one point before settling down and leaving jus a ton of lacing up and down the sides of the glass. Really just could not have looked much better aside from maybe a touch darker.

Aroma of rich dark malts, cocoa, cookie dough, hints of maple and brown sugar, very nicely done, warming did lead some of it to fade however and left just a touch of light vanilla and chocolate hanging in the air. Really full feel here with a nice and smooth creamy touch to it that really worked very, very nicely. Rich vanilla, caramel, maple and brown sugar coming through now again with loads of milk chocolate and a light touch of coffee in the finish. Not too filling and no where near to light, this one worked out quite well I have to admit.

Overall a really solid shot here from them. Served as a well placed night cap and I really could have easily had another when I was done. Good job all around.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 23:50:53 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours out a black body with a quickly receding, bubbly, tan head.

Smell: Roasted, fire-singed barley accompanied by soft, sweet chocolate, ground coffee, and just a small hint of vanilla.

Taste: Roasty, malty tastes of slowly, carefully melted semi-sweet chocolate chips and coffee sweetened with vanilla-flavored sugar, though the chocolate perches on the tongue the longest for me. Light prune fruitiness. A slight earthiness perks up midway along with a roasty bitterness. More of that chocolate closes things out for the slowly drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Low carbonation making for an overall soft mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Though not the most attractive brew around, it's still a soundly sweet, mighty tasty stout and a nice surprise, as I had yet to try anything from Independence Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2010 19:10:57 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours with a massive head (thought it might be infected) that just sits there on top of the obsidian liquid; tight bubbles and great retention

Smell: Dark chocolate with prunes with hints of maple syrup and coffee

Taste: Massive dark chocolate flavors, up front, with the prune and maple sugar elements arriving by mid-palate; after the swallow, the oats add another dimension; just a vague hint of coffee in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, with the requisite creaminess, but a bit too much carbonation underneath for the style

Overall: Noting the comments of others on this, recent bottlings seem to be lacking in a bit of carbonation but I did find a review (from about a year ago, which is how long I have held onto this bottle) that complained of over-carbonation; the flavors are good, however, and I am sure an appropriately carbonated version would be highly rated

Thanks, FreeVerse, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 17:58:17 | More by brentk56

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Thanks to jefferz5000 for this bottle!

Nothing illustrates the oblivion of convict life quite like a deep stout. This one pours a straight obsidian topped by about a half-finger of somewhat resilient light tan foam. The nose comprises coffee, roasted malts, dark chocolate, and a touch of burnt oats. The taste is quite similar, with some blackened biscuits, charcoal, cocoa, and a hint of vanilla (in the background) thrown in there as well. The body is a solid medium, with a light carbonation and a heftily smooth feel, bordering on chewiness. Overall, a very nice, black stout, another brew I wish they carried around here so I could have it whenever the urge hits me.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 07:23:24 | More by TMoney2591

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Draught House.

Pours dark brown with a cream-colored head. The aroma is roasted malts with some chocolate. The flavor is roasted malt, coffee, cream and some chocolate. The mouthfeel is medium to thick and is pretty creamy. Low carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2010 21:34:42 | More by Mora2000

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.68/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled December 2011
An expressive pour into my large Tripel Karmeliet tulip produces a three-finger thick, light brown colored head. The beer is an opaque, near perfect black color. The aroma smells sweet up front with notes of burnt prune, a bright malt sweetness, and something that makes me think of the sweetness in milk. This is backed by a subdued, roasted note that adds some cold coffee like aromatics (some burnt acidity, a touch of acrid dark roast coffee, but a fruity roasted character too) that become more noticeable as my senses adjust to this beer. When you really dig there is a touch of spiciness to the nose that seems to be a combination of the mostly not noticed alcohol and the burnt notes. As the beer warms up a nice, brown bread like, whole grain toasted character comes out in the aroma

Smooth and somewhat dense feeling as I take my first sip, but this also has a touch of a carbonic prickle to it and the density is balanced by a bitter, lightly acrid roast character that comes to dominate the finish. The roast character lingers on the palate with the flavor of deeply burnt, but still fairly smooth grain. This is sweet tasting, especially up front, which accentuates a burnt fruitiness that reminds me of prunes or perhaps raisins, but really the sweetness just reminds me of sugar; charred sugars for sure, but also notes of burnt caramelized malt and dark chocolate. As my palate adjusts to the beer it gets less sweet, more roasted and with more notes of bitter dark chocolate. There is a firm bitterness here that is from both hops and roast character and there is also a sort of spiciness to the roast grain character in the finish. The roast character also brings a touch of tartness that helps to balance the sweetness.

This beer is definitely hitting the spot right now, significantly roasted, with lots of dark chocolate notes, sweetness and bitterness in balance as well as a richness that is just hitting the spot on this cold December evening in Tucson.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 02:17:15 | More by Gueuzedude

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a single from Whole Foods. It's basically a big roasty stout with a mild oatmeal edge. It's not overly thick and you could easily mistake it for a ~6% beer. There's a classic malty dark chocolate and java taste with a little dark bread crust taste and sweetness. Not a bad for a winter day, but also not a standout stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2011 18:59:34 | More by tempest

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured black with low carbonation leaving som tannish bubbles but not to much of a head or lacing

S: Smells of flaked oats, light chocolate and faint hints of coffee

T: Starts off with faked oat an coffee which transitions int som milk chocolate, light coffee. The finish is sordov astringent, sme bitternss, rather clean

M: Medium to big body, hearty but I felt it was undercarbonated, somewhat creamy

O: Pretty average. The booze is maskd very well. i would have never guessedthis beer was 9% ABV

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 02:55:08 | More by barleywinefiend

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. Received as an extra in a trade with SSW117; thanks Sam!

a - Pours a dark black color with an inch of tan head and light carbonation evident.

s - Smells of coffee, sweet chocolate, roasted malts, vanilla, and dark fruit. Quite enjoyable.

t - Tastes of bitter chocolate, alcohol, cocoa, roasted malts, and coffee. A step down from the smell and heavy on the bitter chocolate and coffee.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Pretty smooth and creamy. I wish it was a little more carbonated.

d - A pretty drinkable oatmeal stout that is heavy on bitter chocolate in the taste. I enjoyed the smell but wish it had been more carbonated. Would be willing to try again.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 00:43:08 | More by mdfb79

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Acquired in a trade from duff247.

Pours a very dark colored rich creamy 1+ finger head that fades semi slowly with lacing, over pitch black beer.

Nose is loaded with roasted malts, oatmeal, creamy milk chocolate, dark caramel malts, a bit of black patent malt, toffee, bitter roast, a little coffee, and essence of pure darkness.

Taste brings plenty of roast, some coffee and toffee with that, some black patent malt, a very light malted milk ball, come creamy oatmeal but a little less oatmeal than I expected, rich and creamy, heavy and dark, a bit pillowy, very slight boozy taste, a bit of cocoa powder. Finishes with some bitterness, a bit of a tropical fruit flavor (?), some cocoa, some coffee and roast, fairly sticky and mouth coating, but semi dry. Also a slight chalky dry bready taste.

Mouth is fairly thick, fairly creamy and rich, with decent carbonation and a bit of warming booze.

Drink is OK, some warming booze, the sticky finish and mouth coating makes it a little tougher, and just the heavy beer feel, but otherwise not bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 02:37:44 | More by jlindros

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle into a standard pint glass. The brew pours black with more than 3 fingers worth of mocha colored head. The cap maintains fairly well with large bubbles and a creamy uneven topping. As it fades, it leaves some spots of lacing on the glass.

The aroma of this brew is dark and roasted. Very pleasant smelling with a certain strong espresso character to it which is surprising considering ive been holding on to this bottle for close to 2 years now. There is a hint of citrus and some dark fruity almost raisin-like alcohol notes across the back. All the while, there is an ever-present fresh grain quality (oatmeal?) about this brew that is very appealing from front to back.

The taste is surprisingly more fruity with dark alcohol notes. Figs, plums, raisins, chocolate, licorice, coffee... all of the typical dark brew flavors are there but with a stronger focus on the fruity notes than anything else. Woah, this is more than 9% ok I guess that is fitting. As the brew warms up and into the aftertaste there is a bit of earth, tobacco and leather. Overall this isn't a bad brew.

This is medium bodied with a smooth feel to it. It is moderately carbonated and the alcohol is not hidden despite being aged for quite some time. I cant help but compare this beer to stone's 12th anniversary bitter chocolate stout. There is a lot of similarities here but I think if given the choice to pick between the 2 I would go with this one. Not a bad brew at all, it is worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 02:12:13 | More by stakem

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into duck rabbit snifter

Pours a small layer of light tan head. Fades to near nothing. Leaves some slight splattered lace. Color is a copper brown, nearing black.

Aroma: It either smells like black licorice or light notes of a sharpie marker. It has a deep roast to it with some chocolate and hints of vanilla. Kind of creamy.

Taste: Heavy roast with notes of coffee. Some chocolate, caramel, vanilla, and cream flavors. Has a grassy hop profile. Pretty straight forward.

Mouthfeel: Roasted and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends very dry and roasted.

Overall, a bit above the average oatmeal stout. It is a bit too roasted for my liking. Somewhat drinkable. No alcohol showing in it which surprised me for how high the abv is.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 23:24:34 | More by mothman

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks goes out to Exiled for sending me this one in a past trade as an extra! Served from bottle into a Spaten Optimator mug. Poured pitch black with a two finger brown head that subsided to a half finger slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, roasted malt, caramel, cream, and very subtle oat. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, cream, oatmeal, and alcohol on the followthrough. It had a heavy feel on the palate with medium-high carbonation. Overall this was a pretty decent brew. A little much for outside in our current weather but still quite tasty. The flavor on this one is much better than the aroma in my opinion. But that wouldn't be saying too much in this case if I'm honest. Worth trying for sure but that is about it.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 13:05:54 | More by thagr81us

gford217

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle.

Bottle nearly explodes upon opening and yields a gusher with dark tan bubbles streaming out of the bottle. Body is almost completely black and the enormous head finally settles done leaving good lacing.

Aroma is dark chocolate, cocoa powder and a ton of bubbles that fizz in the nose. Bit of coffee and oatmeal.

The taste is also very sweet with cocoa and oatmeal up front with a chalky dark chocolate texture.

The mouthfeel is crazy, crazy carbonated with tons of bubbles and medium bodied...i think, because the amount of bubbles makes it seem lighter than air.

This beer is certainly over carbonated and i was worried it might be infected, but i didn't really get an infection. That said, the carbonation is distracting and takes away from the beer a bit.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 03:42:27 | More by gford217

jrallen34

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into my Westmalle goblet. Awesome name and bottle, looking cool...Dark brown pour with light carbonation, disappointing for an oatmeal, love to see this on tap...An alluring sweet aroma, surprised at the sweet chocolate, vanilla, and oats coming through without alcohol on this 8.5% beer. Vanilla really shows more than anything, really nice...The taste bores me, most of the sweetness is gone leaving a plain stout with a little roastiness creeping in. Not bad, just boring, however at the abv super easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 02:26:13 | More by jrallen34

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle fresh from the new release. Pours a light black color with a thin layer of light brown foam. Takes an aggressive pour to yield anything more than a finger and a half. Fades too quickly for an oaty stout, not much lace.

Nose has a milky coffee aspect that is nice along with some sweet malts and a touch of roast. Just a hint of cardboard, but not much...overall a pretty nice oatmeal stout nose and the high ABV is not detected in the smell.

Taste is pretty smooth with a nice balance between roast and sweetness. There are hints of Irish dry stout sourness that are not all that uncommon in an oatmeal stout, I kinda like it. It's a tad thin and does not have the viscous creamy feeling many of the best display, but this is easily and hands down the best beer from Independence, not even close. With all the new upstarts in Austin, they will need some firepower like this to compete.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 01:19:25 | More by twiggamortis420

tpd975

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours dark black with a tan head nice retention with a few spots of lace.

S: Aromas of deep roasted malt, slightly burnt, dark chocolate, and burnt coffee.

T: I like it. Roasted to the max. Wonderful deep roasted malt, espresso and bitter dark chocolate. Mild notes of dark fruit with tinges of caramel and toffee. That being said the sweet flavors just peek through. The roast dominates.

M: Medium in body, char, roast bitter from middle through finish. Velvet like mouthfeel

D: Good, solid brew

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 00:57:57 | More by tpd975

champ103

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a dark brown, almost black color. A two finger tan head forms with good retention. Sticky lace is left behind as the foam recedes.
S: Roasted malt, toffee, and coffee. The coffee is strong and acrid.
T: Follows the nose, but the acrid and bitter coffee is a little to strong. Roasted malt lingers.
M/D: A medium body, but a little thin considering what an Oatmeal Stout should be. Harsh prickly carbonation. Not hard to drink, but this is a one and done.

I was not really impressed with this. More acrid coffee that I want for the style, and not nearly as creamy and smooth as I was expecting. Oatmeal Stouts should be incredibly smooth and creamy with a bit of sweetness. This is not. Not bad, but poorly made for the style IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2010 02:01:52 | More by champ103

superspak

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this one in a trade with Cyde. 12 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled on 11/4/2012. Pours pitch black color with a nice 1-2 finger fairly dense dark khaki head with good retention that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Some nice spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas of chocolate, cocoa, oatmeal, caramel, molasses, light coffee, dark fruits, roasted malt, and roasted earthiness. Very nice and balanced dark/roasted malt aromas; with good strength. Taste of big chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, molasses, coffee, oatmeal, slight dark fruit, and roasted earthiness. Slight roasted bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, cocoa, caramel, coffee, molasses, and roasted malt on the finish for a bit. Damn nice complexity and balance of roasted/dark malt flavor; with zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and fairly full bodied; with a creamy, slick, and chewy mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden at 9.2%, with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent imperial oatmeal stout! Great robustness and balance of flavors; and very smooth to sip on. Really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 04:15:18 | More by superspak

flexabull

California

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle courtesy of gn0sis, thanks again!

Beer gushed a bit when opened, and I lost a little beer. Luckily I was near the sink when I opened this, so no mess was made. Pours into the glass a thick black color with a giant tan head.

Aromas are nice, dark chocolate, espresso, oats, and mineral hops.

Taste start out a little cola like, sweet, with some caramel and faint dark chocolate. Finish is crisp, with hints of mineral hops.

Mouthfeel is ok, but on the thin side, and over carbonated.

Drinkability is decent. This is an ok stout, but it's kind of messy, and with some obvious flaws.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 06:08:09 | More by flexabull

atsprings

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to wagenvolks for the trade. 12oz bottle into a DFH Signature glass pours a deep opaque motor oil black with a thin quickly diminishing tan head. Aroma is a nice amount of roasted malts with some bitter cocoa. The taste is a nice amount of smooth roasted malts with a nice blend of bitter cocoa and subtle espresso. The beer is medium bodied and quite smooth with well hidden alcohol. This is a very enjoyable strong stout, one I would likely keep on hand all Winter if it were available here.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 01:14:49 | More by atsprings

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pour is viscous opaque black with tight dark tan head. The nose is heavy on the roast, a touch chalky, bitter coffee, and a bit earthy. The taste is big, roasty, earthy, chocolatey. The finish is bitter coffee and lingers, the body is thick, creamy, highly carbonated. Not bad, a touch on the roasty/bitter side.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 22:17:16 | More by cpetrone84

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks to htomsirveaux for the brews.

A - Pours an oily black with tan crown of foam. Pretty good looking, though most Stouts are, aren't they?

S - Aromas of hop, oxidation, leather, roasted grain, licorice, and a bit of booze. Quite complex, a winner,

T - The taste is quite nice. Dark roast, oats give a smoothness, and there is also a decent hop balance and even a vague fruitiness likely owing to said hops... This is very tasty.

M - Creamy but still sharp. Good.

D - I would drink this frequently, if it were available to me.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2010 06:01:56 | More by ktrillionaire

wagenvolks

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle into a Unibroue tulip.

Quite the stunning pour, Convict Hill pours with an oily, jet-black body into the glass--near opaque and sporting a sizable crown of dark tan head. The bubbles slowly retreat to a sticky ring of foam that clings to the tulip's edge. Aroma's no slouch, either. Rich oatiness adds a hint of vanilla, while a solid malt backing provides milk chocolate and espresso. Notes of raisin and other dark fruits in the background balance with a touch of earthy hops.

Roasty, dark coffee notes blend with Baker's chocolate and a grainy oat note. Mocha bitterness lingers into the finish and clashes with the hops nicely. Alcohol is well-hidden until the very end (plus that familiar warming sensation below). Mouthfeel is velvety smooth at first, but the carbonation picks up mid-sip to add a bit of kick to the finish. The medium-thick body is near perfect in consistency: luxurious on the palate, but never too heavy. This stuff is really good--maybe even better than on-tap, which is a rarity. Independence had never really impressed me until I tried this beer almost a year ago. I just might have to start revisiting some of their other bottled selections, because Convict Hill is one excellent Oatmeal Stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2010 04:56:26 | More by wagenvolks